Ian and Al had one moment of sanity. I'm still waiting for you to have one.

Arguing the difficulty of reading a TelePrompTer? Arguing that competitors wanted to hire someone? Are these really the best we’ve got?

Again, I’m not saying he’s not a nice person. I’m sure he is. I’m not saying he’s not been on television a long time, there’s clear evidence for that. But when you look at metrics of an effective news person, many others outshine.

Yes... reading the TelePrompTer is not easy. There are so many things going on during a newscast. Being an anchor is difficult. Being an anchor in the same market for 4 decades is even MORE difficult. Being an anchor in the same market for 4 decades and gaining the respect of almost every person you work with and encounter professionally is so difficult, it’s almost unheard of. You seem to know quite a bit about broadcasting, I’m really surprised you are downplaying these facts of this business. I can only assume that it’s because you don’t like Bill and so you can’t be objective about his career. If that’s the case, just say so.
It’s silly to compare Bill to field reporters. Anchoring and reporting are two COMPLETELY different jobs that require COMPLETELY different skill sets and have COMPLETELY different goals. Once again, for someone who seems to not be ignorant of the broadcasting industry, I’m surprised you don’t seem to know that.
Also, it doesn’t matter what sports teams he roots for.

Ian and Al had one moment of sanity. I'm still waiting for you to have one.

Arguing the difficulty of reading a TelePrompTer? Arguing that competitors wanted to hire someone? Are these really the best we’ve got?

Again, I’m not saying he’s not a nice person. I’m sure he is. I’m not saying he’s not been on television a long time, there’s clear evidence for that. But when you look at metrics of an effective news person, many others outshine.

Yes... reading the TelePrompTer is not easy. There are so many things going on during a newscast. Being an anchor is difficult. Being an anchor in the same market for 4 decades is even MORE difficult. Being an anchor in the same market for 4 decades and gaining the respect of almost every person you work with and encounter professionally is so difficult, it’s almost unheard of. You seem to know quite a bit about broadcasting, I’m really surprised you are downplaying these facts of this business. I can only assume that it’s because you don’t like Bill and so you can’t be objective about his career. If that’s the case, just say so.
It’s silly to compare Bill to field reporters. Anchoring and reporting are two COMPLETELY different jobs that require COMPLETELY different skill sets and have COMPLETELY different goals. Once again, for someone who seems to not be ignorant of the broadcasting industry, I’m surprised you don’t seem to know that.
Also, it doesn’t matter what sports teams he roots for.

I don’t know Bill. I don’t like or dislike him. It would be false to say either because I don’t know him. The only thing I have to go on is what is seen publicly.

You’d think someone who’s been in a profession that long would have more to show for it.

When people are saying how difficult TelePrompTer reading is, they’re stretching. Who else has had that privilege? What if the only thing people said about a longtime NBA player is “Well, you know, dribbling a basketball is more difficult than it looks.”

And, no, being in the same place that long is not difficult. Ask any autoworker who worked at the same plant for 30 or 40+ years. To stay at the same place, all you have to do is not move, not take any risks, not be sought by anyone else, and do an adequate enough job not to lose your position. Not difficult at all.

Sure, anchoring and reporting are different skills. It just shows, to your point, how much better Terry and Jim are. They excel at both!

Ian and Al had one moment of sanity. I'm still waiting for you to have one.

Arguing the difficulty of reading a TelePrompTer? Arguing that competitors wanted to hire someone? Are these really the best we’ve got?

Again, I’m not saying he’s not a nice person. I’m sure he is. I’m not saying he’s not been on television a long time, there’s clear evidence for that. But when you look at metrics of an effective news person, many others outshine.

Yes... reading the TelePrompTer is not easy. There are so many things going on during a newscast. Being an anchor is difficult. Being an anchor in the same market for 4 decades is even MORE difficult. Being an anchor in the same market for 4 decades and gaining the respect of almost every person you work with and encounter professionally is so difficult, it’s almost unheard of. You seem to know quite a bit about broadcasting, I’m really surprised you are downplaying these facts of this business. I can only assume that it’s because you don’t like Bill and so you can’t be objective about his career. If that’s the case, just say so.
It’s silly to compare Bill to field reporters. Anchoring and reporting are two COMPLETELY different jobs that require COMPLETELY different skill sets and have COMPLETELY different goals. Once again, for someone who seems to not be ignorant of the broadcasting industry, I’m surprised you don’t seem to know that.
Also, it doesn’t matter what sports teams he roots for.

I don’t know Bill. I don’t like or dislike him. It would be false to say either because I don’t know him. The only thing I have to go on is what is seen publicly.

You’d think someone who’s been in a profession that long would have more to show for it.

When people are saying how difficult TelePrompTer reading is, they’re stretching. Who else has had that privilege? What if the only thing people said about a longtime NBA player is “Well, you know, dribbling a basketball is more difficult than it looks.”

And, no, being in the same place that long is not difficult. Ask any autoworker who worked at the same plant for 30 or 40+ years. To stay at the same place, all you have to do is not move, not take any risks, not be sought by anyone else, and do an adequate enough job not to lose your position. Not difficult at all.

Sure, anchoring and reporting are different skills. It just shows, to your point, how much better Terry and Jim are. They excel at both!

Dribbling a basketball in the NBA is difficult and anyone who can do it for a long time DOES deserve respect as a basketball player.
Once again, for someone who seems to be aware of how the broadcast industry works, you are ignoring some very harsh realities of that industry. Holding a job, especially as a lead anchor, for a long time is not easy. All it takes is for one person, if it’s the right/wrong person, to not like you and your time in that market could be over.
I’m sure there are a lot of hard working auto workers who have been laid off after a long career that would take serious issue with your statements... and rightfully so.
I’m not going to debate you on the performance of other anchors/reporters. It’s really irrelevant to this discussion. This isn’t Thunderdome.
You’re not going to convince me you are right. While I do enjoy talking about broadcasting, this discussion is starting to wear on me. I will stick up for Bill because I respect him but he doesn’t need me to stick up for him. Neither one of us really values your opinion.

1. Bill’s contributions and legacy are not based on productivity. “He’s well-liked. He’s been around a long time.” These are true statements. These are statements on personality and chronology, not how much is produced at the end of the day.

2. Bill is evaluated on a different scale than current reporters/anchors. Maybe it’s because he started in an era much different from today. When he started, budgets were bigger and less was expected. Anyone who fills his spot will be expected to produce more. When people are saying “Reading a TelePrompTer is hard,” they’re saying that for Bill, not anyone else.

3. Being a main anchor at the same market for a long time has more to do with management than talent. Lazy, ineffective, and poor managers can keep things they way they are. Many good anchors are let go for a variety of reasons: pay, going a different direction, etc. His longevity is not an accomplishment of his as it was a decision from managers who didn’t want to try something else, something new, or didn’t want to pay for something different.

Again, I have absolutely nothing against him. I don’t even know him and will likely never meet him. I’m strictly speaking from an objective perspective of evaluating production.

He’s been around a long time and he is well-liked. Maybe that’s enough.

I find it hilarious that HL101 criticizes others for apparently not knowing who he is... yet he takes every opportunity to criticize Bill who he "claims" to have never met. HL101 is a living definition of a "hypocrite."

I find it hilarious that HL101 criticizes others for apparently not knowing who he is... yet he takes every opportunity to criticize Bill who he "claims" to have never met. HL101 is a living definition of a "hypocrite."

I gave Bill and a class he was teaching a tour of our facility some years back. He was most gracious and kind. I remember feeling taken aback some time later when he declined my friend request on Facebook, which in retrospect was petty on my part, and a reason why I don't engage in social media anymore (it really does mess up your priorities). I wish him the best in his retirement!